Silent Film Revivalist Matthew Marshall Brings Classic Cinema to Life in Charlottesville
For over two decades, Matthew Marshall has been a unique figure in the Charlottesville, Virginia, arts scene, breathing new life into the world of silent films. The Media Studies Lecturer at the University of Virginia masterfully combines his passions for classical music composition and silent cinema, performing live scores alongside screenings for audiences across Albemarle County.
A Lifelong Passion for Silent Film
Marshall’s fascination with silent films began in his childhood, nurtured by family members with a strong appreciation for the art form. He recalls being captivated by a television broadcast of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” as a youth, an experience that ignited a lifelong dedication. Growing up, he absorbed discussions about film from his parents and grandparents, fostering a receptive environment for the cinematic styles of a bygone era.
Blending Music and Film
Marshall’s musical talent developed alongside his love for film. He began composing classical music in college, and later, while writing music for other musicians in the late 1990s, he envisioned a way to merge his two passions. He found that his preferred musical style naturally aligned with the aesthetic of the silent film era. “The good news is the kind of music I like to write sounds [like the] 1920s,” Marshall said. “I endeavor to keep you in the movie, in that world.”
From Virginia Film Festival to University Classroom
An early opportunity arose in 2001 when Richard Herskowitz, then director of the Virginia Film Festival, sought a musician to accompany a screening of “The Phantom of the Opera.” Marshall’s wife mentioned his composing skills, leading to a collaboration that continued annually at the festival through 2012, and periodically since.
Marshall’s performances now extend beyond the Virginia Film Festival to include venues such as the Paramount Theater and the Violet Crown, where he was named the theater’s first artist in residence in 2024. At the Violet Crown, fourth-year University of Virginia student Emma Bauer described his performance as “a very calming and meditative experience.” Marshall sometimes performs solo, and other times with a chamber group to create a fuller orchestral sound.
Educator and Screenwriter
Prior to joining the University of Virginia in 2016, Marshall taught film studies at Hollins University for five years. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in screenwriting, earned in 2011. His screenplay, “The Portrait,” which blends characters from Edgar Allan Poe stories, garnered awards at several international film festivals, including the Rhode Island International Film Festival in 2011, and festivals in New York, Los Angeles, and St. Petersburg, Russia.
Currently, Marshall teaches screenwriting and “Cinema As An Art Form” at the University of Virginia, and “Film Appreciation” through the Piedmont Virginia Community College’s Prison Education Program. His “Cinema As An Art Form” course provides a platform to share his passion for silent films and classical music, often featuring live musical accompaniment during screenings.
The Power of Silent Cinema in a Modern World
Marshall believes that silent films encourage a different kind of engagement with cinema, prompting viewers to “watch less and observe more.” He aims to cultivate a deeper appreciation for visual storytelling, particularly in an age dominated by short-form content. His approach to composing scores has evolved, incorporating both original compositions and existing music, often drawing from original scores when available, as he did with Hans Erdmann’s score for the 100th-anniversary screening of “Nosferatu” in 2022.
Marshall emphasizes the importance of the audience’s role in completing the artistic experience. “There’s the art that’s on the screen, but then there’s the art of the audience, their ability to make connections,” he explained. “When you’re dealing with short-form content, you’re not going to make connections, you’re just going to experience the thing in the moment.”
Upcoming Performance
Matthew Marshall will perform a live score for “The Adventures of Prince Achmed” on March 15 at the Violet Crown. Tickets are available on the Violet Crown website.